Cappies Gala a night of glitter, glam and theatrical talent

Greater Cincinnati high school students were recognized in a Tony’s-style awards ceremony for accomplishments in theatrical performance and writing May 27 at Music Hall.
The Enquirer/Nancy Daly

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Nominees Liz Browning, Sydney Cain and Tyler Creech of Colerain High School get ready to enter the 2018 Cappies awards. They were nominated for "The Diary of Anne Frank."(Photo: The Enquirer/Nancy Daly)Buy Photo

Greater Cincinnati high school students were recognized in a Tony’s-style awards ceremony for their accomplishments in theatrical performance, technical theater and writing in a glittering gala May 27 at Music Hall.

Leading the way at the 2018 Cappies was "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" which involved more than 100 members of Loveland High School's drama family.

The school's largest production ever took home seven awards including Best Musical, Lead Actor in a Musical (Gabe Moss), Lead Actress in a Musical (Lily Morris) and Supporting Actor in a Musical (Luke Rohling).

Honored with five Cappies was McAuley High School's energetic "Thoroughly Modern Millie." Its tap dancing was an audience favorite of the night.

An intense story of intellectually impaired sister Rosemary in the over-achieving Kennedy family was "28 Marchant Avenue." The drama brought four Cappies to School for Creative and Performing Arts including "Best Play" and several acting awards.

Family was a recurring theme during the Cappies Gala 2018. Actors thanked their parents for driving them to play practice and for supporting their dreams. Hannah Waskowitz, who won for her portrayal of Rose Kennedy in SCPA's "28 Marchant Avenue," thanked her family for putting up with her during the two months it took to perfect a Boston accent.

The West Side's Driehaus family had Cappie nominees from two schools, Mother of Mercy High School in Westwood and McAuley High School in College Hill. These schools will merge this fall into Mercy McAuley High School.

Both of the sisters won.

Erin Driehaus, of Mother of Mercy, thanked her older sister Emily for helping her write play reviews in the Cappies program. She won the "Female Critic" Cappies award.

And Emily Driehaus, of McAuley, received Featured Actress in a Musical for "Thoroughly Modern Millie." Besides thanking her family, she also gave a shout out to the "McDrama" theater family.

The annual Cappies Gala, organized by the Cappies of Greater Cincinnati, for the 17th year celebrated the hard work of high school theater departments across Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

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Nominated for "Sweeney Todd," performers from William Mason High School prepare to enter the 2018 Cappies.(Photo: The Enquirer/Nancy Daly)

The gala featured excerpts from plays and musicals in select categories.

And the envelope, please

Below are the winners announced at the May 27 Cappies. You can also read reviews of this year's plays – and see what your high school did – at https://www.cincicap.com/reviews.

Up and Coming Critic: Elizabeth Volk, Saint Ursula Academy

Female Critic: Erin Driehaus, Mother of Mercy High School

Male Critic: Kurt Knue, Taylor High School

Marketing and Publicity: Kara Coffeey and Crew, William Mason High School, “Sweeney Todd”